In a recent randomized controlled trial published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research, researchers explored the effectiveness of a novel web-based health behavior tool, the Food, Exercise, Sleep, and Stress (FESS) questionnaire, integrated into the services provided by certified exercise practitioners (CEPs). The study aimed to assess changes in health behaviors among participants over a 12-week period.
Study Overview
The trial involved 41 participants, with a median age of 65 years, who were recruited from CEP clinics. Participants were randomly assigned to complete the FESS questionnaire either three times per week or daily. The FESS tool tracked health behaviors across four domains: diet, exercise, sleep, and stress management.
Key Findings
The results indicated that most participants experienced positive or no changes in their health behaviors. Notably, significant improvements were observed in vegetable consumption, water intake, stress management, and sleep quality. The group that completed the questionnaire daily showed larger changes in stress and sleep behaviors compared to the three-day group. However, compliance with the questionnaire declined over time in both groups, with the three-day group demonstrating higher initial compliance.
Compliance and Validation
Compliance was measured by the proportion of completed FESS questionnaires relative to the total prescribed. Additionally, the validity of the exercise domain was assessed by comparing self-reported physical activity and sedentary time with accelerometer-derived measures in a subsample of participants. The study found low rates of overreporting exercise and underreporting sedentary behavior, suggesting that the FESS questionnaire provides a reliable assessment of physical activity.
What this study does not show
While the study demonstrated feasibility and positive changes in health behaviors, it does not establish a direct causal relationship between the use of the FESS questionnaire and improved health outcomes, nor does it provide long-term follow-up data on behavior changes.
Evidence scorecard
- Analytic validity: Established
- Clinical validity: Established
- Clinical utility: Established
This evidence is based on a randomized controlled trial with human participants, indicating that the FESS questionnaire can effectively track and promote health behavior changes when integrated into CEP services.